Beyond Cabo For A Day: 4 Laid-Back Baja Towns Travelers Are Falling For

We at The Cabo Sun believe that sometimes the most unforgettable Baja adventures aren’t found on crowded resort beaches or glossy guide-book pages—they’re tucked away down dusty side roads, hidden in humble pueblos where the surf whispers secrets and sunsets paint the sky in fiery hues.

Imagine swapping neon nightclub signs for hand-painted murals, trading poolside DJs for the rhythmic crash of Pacific waves, and swapping overpriced apps for farm-fresh tortillas slathered in homemade salsa.

From centuries-old missions where time stands still to sun-drenched fields fragrant with strawberries and basil, these four sleepy towns each offer a different flavor of Baja magic.

So fire up your playlist and let us guide you beyond Cabo—to 4 laid back towns more and more travelers are falling in love with.

Todos Santos

About 50 miles (≈1 hour) north of Cabo San Lucas on Highway 19, Todos Santos wears its “Pueblo Mágico” badge like a crown jewel.

Once a sugar-mill boomtown, it’s been reborn as Baja’s bohemian playground—think swaying palms, candy-colored façades, and an art scene bursting from every cobblestone corner. Stroll under century-old mango trees, sip cold micheladas in hidden courtyards, or catch an impromptu guitar serenade spilling out of a gallery doorway.

In Todos Santos, even a simple walk feels like stepping into a sun-drenched indie film.

Why you’ll fall for it:

• Artsy Wonderland: Over two dozen galleries showcase everything from bold surf-inspired murals to time-honored Talavera pottery—perfect for snagging that envy-inducing Instagram shot. Pop into Galería Logan for Jill Logan’s vibrant abstracts and giclée prints—right next to Hotel California. Learn more at jilllogan.com.
• Surf & Siesta: Whether you’re carving mellow breaks at Playa Los Cerritos or long-boarding at Playa Cerritos, the waves here are pure laid-back bliss—ideal for newbies and seasoned riders alike.
• Farm-to-Table Fiesta: Picture feather-light tortillas piled high with farm-fresh avocados, fiery local chilis, and queso fresco so creamy it practically melts in your mouth. Reserve a table at Jazamango, Chef Javier Plascencia’s garden-to-plate oasis. Check the menu and book at jazamango.mx.
• Secret Nightlife: Ascend to rooftop mezcal bars for panoramic desert-to-ocean views, then hunt down underground music joints where local bands keep the fiesta alive under starlit skies.

Whether you’re treasure-hunting for one-of-a-kind handicrafts, chasing the perfect wave, or simply craving small-town charm, Todos Santos is that irresistible slice of Baja you’ll wish you’d discovered ages ago.

El Pescadero

Just 8 km (5 miles) south of Todos Santos—and about a 60-minute drive north of Cabo San Lucas—El Pescadero is Baja’s secret green ribbon, where fertile fields tumble toward the Pacific and every breeze smells like basil and sea salt.

Picture endless rows of strawberries, avocado orchards bustling with bees, and neat basil groves shading rustic farmstands. Here, the pace slows to match the tide: morning surf sessions segue into sun-soaked yoga under palm fronds, and afternoons are spent sampling goat-cheese empanadas at roadside cafés.

Why you’ll fall for it:

• Oasis Vibes: Lush strawberry and basil farms nestle beside beachfront palapas—plan a weekend market raid at La Vega or wander the farms at Flora Farms.
• Epic Surf & Chill: Playa Los Cerritos offers silky long-boarding waves at dawn, then mellows into perfect ankle-deep belly-riders by mid-morning. Learn to ride the waves with CRT Surf School at Cerritos Beach—lessons, rentals, and guides at crtsurfschool.com
• Farm-to-Table Feasting: Rustic cafés serve dinners plated with local goat cheese, slow-roasted pork, and berries still warm from the field. Don’t miss the weekend “La Vega” market, where homemade tamales, strawberry tarts, and freshly squeezed citrus juices vie for your attention. Dine at Hierbabuena for goat-cheese empanadas and seasonal tarts—details here.
• Wellness Wonderland: Roll out your yoga mat beneath swaying palms, join a beachfront sound-bath at golden hour, or book a palm-leaf massage in an open-air palapa. Fresh-pressed green juices and cacao ceremonies keep the good vibes flowing long after the sun dips.
• Off-Grid Charm: Hunt down hidden eco-lodges—treehouse cabins, thatched surf retreats, and aloe-field glamping pods—that feel miles from modern life (even though you’re just off the highway). Stargazing here isn’t an activity; it’s a nightly ritual.

Between sunrise surf sessions, farm-fresh feasts and lazy hammock afternoons, El Pescadero wraps you in the kind of laid-back magic you’ll be dreaming about long after you’ve packed up your board.

Miraflores

Nestled about 42 km (≈1 hour drive) north of San José del Cabo, Miraflores feels like Baja’s best-kept ranching secret—where the desert meets the foothills of the Sierra de la Laguna and cowboys still tip their hats in passing.

Once you roll off Highway 1 onto its winding dirt access road, the soundtrack shifts from traffic hum to scuffling horseshoes and the distant trickle of mountain streams.

Whitewashed adobe walls, hand-tooled leather belts hanging in open-air workshops, and the smoky aroma of mesquite cooking in family-run fondas set the stage for an authentic escape that feels worlds away—yet it’s just a day-trip from Cabo.

Why you’ll fall for it:

• Artisanal Leather & Handcrafts: Watch master leatherworkers transform slabs of hide into belts, saddlebags, and wallets—with ornate tooling techniques passed down through generations. You can even try stamping your initials on a mini belt buckle to take home.
• Thermal Spring Hideaway: A short, scenic hike leads you to bubbling hot springs tucked under palm-shaded canyons. Soak in steamy pools warmed by geothermal springs, then rinse off in a cool natural stream—pure ranch-style spa therapy. Hike to bubbling hot springs and crystal pools on the Pozas de Miraflores trail—route tips on AllTrails: Poza de Miraflores.
• Hearty Ranch-Style Eats: Dig into bowls of warming menudo or mole-braised beef at family fondas where grandmothers still hand-press every tortilla. Don’t miss the goat-cheese empanadas, dusted with cinnamon sugar for a sweet-savory twist.
• Sunset Saddle Rides: Saddle up at a local rancho for a guided horseback tour through ocotillo-studded mesas, pausing atop a ridge to toast your journey with cold cervezas as the sun melts behind distant mountain peaks.
• Off-Grid Retreats: Trade traditional hotels for eco-cabins powered by solar panels and thatched-roof palapas nestled among olive groves. Wake up to dawn’s pink glow, then sip freshly brewed coffee on your private veranda.
• Scenic Back-Road Drives: The journey here is half the fun—wind along dusty trails that reveal hidden oases, cactus forests, and sweeping views of ochre-colored canyons. Pack granola bars and fill a reusable bottle—this is Baja exploration at its purest.

Whether you’re craving hands-on artisan encounters, geothermal bliss, or old-world ranch hospitality, Miraflores delivers a soulful slice of Baja that’s equal parts rugged and refined.

We at The Cabo Sun promise—it’s the kind of day trip you’ll be planning to repeat before you’ve even driven back to Cabo.

Santiago

Roughly 1 hour and 15 minutes north of San José del Cabo along Highway 1, Santiago (originally Aiñiní) unfolds like a secret chapter of Baja’s storybook—where date palms line a sandy arroyo, colonial-era stone façades catch golden afternoon light, and the air hums with cicadas instead of car horns.

Here, the pace is measured in the slow drip of waterfall spray and the chatter of farmers swapping tales under shaded plazas. Pull off the highway, park beneath the mission bells, and let this tranquil pueblo cast its gentle spell.

Why you’ll fall for it:

• Timeless Mission & Plaza: Step into the cool shadow of the 1724 Santiago Apóstol church—its weathered stone walls and carved wooden doors frame a sun-dappled plaza where elders gather for morning coffee and kids chase pigeons among bougainvillea blooms.
• Hidden Waterfall Oasis: A short, scenic hike through groves of date palms and jojoba shrubs leads to the seasonal Cascadas de la Pilita—crystal-clear pools perfect for a refreshing plunge and an impromptu riverside picnic.
• Festivals & Folklore: Time your visit for July 25th’s Fiesta de Santiago Apóstol, when Mariachi bands, folklórico dancers, and firework-lit processions turn the town square into a riot of color and rhythm.
• Artisanal Treasures: Wander open-air stalls brimming with handwoven palm baskets, clay jars of date-syrup candy, and delicate pottery painted with desert motifs—each piece carrying the quiet pride of multi-generational craftsmanship.
• Riverside Mezcal & Bites: Stretch out along the sunbaked riverbed under waving cottonwood leaves, then sip smoky mezcal from a roadside palapa as you nibble on gorditas stuffed with locally grown squash blossoms and queso fresco.
• Eco-Retreats & Star Shows: Trade neon lights for a canopy of stars—book a solar-powered casita or riverside glamping pod and fall asleep to the lullaby of night insects. Come dawn, sip coffee on your private veranda as the Milky Way arcs overhead.

Between its storied mission, secret waterfall hideaways, and down-to-earth fiestas, Santiago is Baja’s serene heart, where every step feels like a whispered invitation to slow down and savor the simple magic of the land.

Ready to hit the road beyond Cabo? Here’s your game plan: snag a rental car with working AC (your future self will thank you), load up your playlist with a mix of beachy surf tunes and desert rock, and don’t forget the essentials—sunblock, a water bottle, and an appetite for spontaneous roadside snacks (we’re looking at you, churros).

From the boho-chic galleries of Todos Santos to the farm-fresh feasts of El Pescadero, the rugged ranch life of Miraflores and the tranquil mission bells of Santiago, each of these Baja gems serves up its own flavor of “wow.” You might find yourself sipping mezcal under a starlit sky one night, then cruising through strawberry fields at dawn the next.

We can’t wait to hear which sleepy pueblo captures your imagination—and your Instagram feed—first. Safe travels!